Filed under: Christmas Ornaments, Melita's Designs, Other People's Designs
Thanks to my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter Stitch-in on Saturday, Saturday night’s movie, and football on Sunday, here’s a couple of days’ work on the Christmas bulbs (7 count plastic canvas kit from last year). Three before the meeting, four during the meeting, and five after the meeting, which means half are done!
And, half of Bill’s Chottie’s Plaid bookmark is stitched. I’m curious about how much his plaid will differ from mine. The yellow band is the biggest difference (6 vs 2).
Filed under: Christmas Ornaments, Christmas Ornaments, Melita's Other Completed Pieces, Other People's Designs
My Christmas Crafttree sprung up in 2016 and again in 2018 (I described how I made it previously: https://melitastitches4fun.com/?s=Craftree&submit=Search).
Well, it finally makes a return in 2023 with my needlepoint ornaments. Even though I lent 35 needlepoint ornaments to the ANG NJ Needle Artists chapter for the Festive of Trees display (more on this another time), I filled this tree with 22 needlepoint ornaments, 3 snowflakes falling, and both Linda’s Santa (left) and my Santa (right) looking approvingly at the tree!
This year, our 3′ Christmas tree (from Brooks Drug Store in 1984 which was my first year as a pharmacist and our first Christmas together) that goes on a table holds the non-needlepoint abd some hand-crafted ornaments (beaded, ceramics, and crocheted) that we have collected over the years, been given, or inherited. It may be a small tree, but it still can hold up to 100 ornaments. I have about 65 ornaments and 20 icicles, not including the 2 dozen multi-colored tinsels. I usually alternate yearly between ornaments and icicles (with a few special ornaments).
We bought a “tall, skinny” tree one year from a catalog, but it was defective, and we returned it, believing that meant we were supposed to keep our little one! Forty years old next year? How’s that possible?
Our guard dog, Buddha, is named for our dear friend, Johhny G, who passed away way too early on this day in 1994 at 39 years of age.
We miss each and every one of our family and friends but have lots of fond memories!! Wishing he and others who have passed rest in peace.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 2011
I held off posting this until the traditional start of the holiday season, the day after Thanksgiving!
At our October ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter meeting, Heather discussed the Waffle and Amadeus. I’d already made the Waffle into an ornament.
The Amadeus is only tricky where the two join together for the first 5 stitches in the North, South, East, and West. I have to pull the thread off to the side, find the hole, and then pull it taut.
I worked the Amadeus motif using Kreinik #12 Braid 421 Azalea and 5982 Forest Green with DMC #8 Blanc for the Alternating Continental background. A large gold bead filled in the center using a cross stitch through the bead to hold it upright without wobbling. The cording is DMC #5 666 red and 701 green (6 strands each).
A couple of people in my chapter wanted to see what I had learned from my finishing class. So, I brought everything to our October Stitch-in (wow-a month ago tomorrow). Most everything fits appropriately in my lovely A Place for Everything, a ByAnnie and by Linda bag. The tools are in another holder. I found my glue gun and brought it. I bought a Mighty Travel Iron by Dritz. My big iron is too big for these ornaments. A few bottled waters (Evian, which is easy to find, and Ocean, which we had in the fridge) are soft enough to use in the iron. The last time I bought a gallon of distilled water, it leaked. I got 1/8″ thick foam board from Ebay before learning that the Framing Dept at Michael’s have the thin boards. The 3/8″ board is out in the aisle. Thanks to Michael’s for their 40% off coupons, I got a nice price on Friskar’s nip scissors. Lots to bring.
I finished the Amadeus into a diamond. And, it was done in about 3 hours. I am getting faster.
I forgot I’d brought along a 3″, 4″, and 5″ circle template from mommymadethat (.com) for any rounds. Molly has some great templates (free) on her website. But, Nanda’s circle was very round. So, marking the shape with a pencil worked out fine.
The cording with Kreinik didn’t turn out nearly as tight as with the drill. I did sew it into place to reinforce the top at the loop and went around adding a couple of stitches to connect the cording to the front and back on each side.
No Black Friday shopping here. We’re busy at home cleaning, resting, decorating, resting, and more decorating over the course of today while listening to holiday music and will be all ready for Christmas!
Filed under: Christmas Ornaments
Three competing Christmas projects: The Chottie’s Plaid bookmark for Bill, Amanda Lawford Christmas Tree Top Angel, and now the Christmas Lights Garland kit that I got for Christmas last year. It just surfaced (from within a pile I was going through). But, I have one month (32 days) before this year’s Christmas and decided this will be the project to bring to our ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter Stitch-in this Saturday.
The kit came from Herrschners. It’s on 7 mesh plastic canvas and uses plastic canvas yarn (quite bulky; each skein is 10 yards). Very pretty colors.
It’s supposed to make 20 lights but I can make 24 from the way I cut the canvas. The only thing is that they gave me 2 light green skeins instead of 2 dark green skeins. The 2 foot strand to connect the bulbs will have to be done with the light green yarn unless I find a sturdier cord (which would probably be a good idea).
I finished 3 in order to be sure that I have everything I need to stitch them on Saturday. I’m also trying to figure out the length of yarn I need so that I don’t have to start multiple strands unnecessarily. Getting the angle on the overcast edges was a little tricky.
I have much to be thankful for (including not cooking the Turkey dinner again this year) and hope you do too. Enjoy your day!
Filed under: ANG Central Jersey Chapter, Name Tag Lee Canvas, Sashiko Mini Sampler Hemp Leaf
I joined the ANG Central Jersey Chapter (CJC) today. Since I had been there 4 times this year for a variety of reasons, I decided that I might as well officially join the chapter. It’s about an hour and 20 minute drive. So, I won’t be there every month but maybe quarterly. We’ll see. Nice group of about a dozen women that meet in a church in Colonia, NJ from 10-3. They stitch, hold the meeting around 11:30 or 12, have lunch, and keep stiching. On a Saturday, traffic is not too bad. So, if there is good weather and no other plans, I can join them periodically.
New members get a gift bag! The painted canvas is for a beaded name tag designed exclusively for the chapter by Lee’s Needlearts. Instructions are included. But, nobody wore name tags and 2 women told me they never stitched it. Very pretty design.
The purple card case was made for their chapter’s anniversary last year and these are extras. Since they were made by Sharon B and Sue C, that makes it that much more special. Ironic that there are 3 slots. I now belong to 3 ANG chapters and 1 EGA chapter. Only 2 of the 4 chapters have business cards. But, I have my own personal ones. So, 3 slots are perfect!
And, the Sashiko Mini Sampler Kit by Miniature Rhino is of a Hemp Leaf (Asanoha). It comes with white thread and 2 sizes of Sashiko needles by Olympus. I didn’t have these needles! But, I didn’t get instructions. I believe that Jacqui C contributed the kit. So, if I can’t figure out what to do with this, I can ask Jacqui.
The fob is color coordinated with everything ever so nicely! Well done, CJC.
It’s interesting to see how different chapters function. No one is the same!
Filed under: 120 Alphabets by Leisure Arts, 365 Alphabets: Cross Stitch All Through The Year by Kooler Design Studio, Alphabet Books, Alphabets Galore: 136 Alphabets by Leisure Arts, Books in My Library, Clown Alphabet by Just CrossStitch, Plain & Fancy Alphabets by Better Homes and Gardens
The ANG NJ Needle Artists chapter is doing Chottie’s Plaid for a name tag. Last night, Cathryn discussed how to fit names onto the available space. It dawned on me that I never compiled a list of my alphabet books.
My print pamphlets/books include (in no particular order):
Plain & Fancy Alphabets by Better Homes and Gardens
Clown Alphabet by Just CrossStitch
365 Alphabets: Cross Stitch All Through The Year by Kooler Design Studio
Alphabets Galore: 136 Alphabets by Leisure Arts
120 Alphabets by Leisure Arts
Alphabetrics by Jinis
Online resource include:
https://lordlibidan.com/53-free-cross-stitch-alphabets/ Here’s an example (arranged by height up to 16 stitches high):
And, ANG members can access this one:
Leslie’s Italic Alphabet by Dianne’s Designs from Nametag with Bright Fish, by Leslie Barnes, in the 1999 July issue of Needle Pointers magazine (https://online.fliphtml5.com/bjsk/bzza/).
Brenda C left a comment below with more wonderful resources but I wanted to pull them up into the posting in case I forget they are there or others don’t read the comments. The rest are from Brenda who is, as always, very helpful and generous!
These also from Needle Pointer’s are by Tink Boord-Dill (who wrote many alphabet books which are available on Etsy at https://tinkbd.com/ and a Google search will find a few other books; a review of 6 books is in the 2006 03 March issue and 4 books in the 2018 05 May issue – alphabets are always in style):
- 2005 07 July issue for Asian and Pressed Out 18 or Negative Space
- 2005 09 September issue for Hebrew 16
- 2005 11 November issue for Typo Script 20 and Gallery 19 Serif
- 2006 01 January issue Diamond Tilt 20 and Bucket 16
In the 2013 03 March issue of Needle Pointers has 5 different alphabets from Sandra M R, an ANG certified Senior Master Teacher.
In the 2019 03 March issue of Needle Pointers Kathleen B shared her design, Lower Case Alphabet Sampler.
Janet Perry also has some wonderful alphabets on her blog: Nuts about Needlepoint.
I got this tip to add: If you want the words/letters to be legible on name tags, stick to simple, large fonts. Many of those you find in books are better for monograms than names.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Imperial Topaz by Sue Reed
I did get good contrast between the threads so that you can see the pattern in the couching which are the 4 areas surrounding the center large rectangle. It was easy stitching, but you do have to count correctly. I’m ready for the next area. I am looking forward to my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter meeting on Monday’s night to get Linda’s tips on the next area.
The gold trim on the skirt and cuffs on her sleeves was done with a metallic thread that came with the other threads and was wrapped around a cardboard tube. There was half of the identification tag in a bag indicating that it was Balger #16 Braid Gold 002 from Kreinik. Interestingly, my stash has one unlabeled cardboard tube that I will use on the back of the angel (second unstarted canvas). I figured that was how Kreinik used to supply their metallics, and now it’s confirmed! Luckily, mine is a match because there is not enough of hers (mine is on the left and the original is the right tube in photo).
The yellow-gold of her left wing was done as well in #16 Braid and was a little tight using 6 strands of DMC Floss to fill in, but I want it to match what was already done.
I finished the front of the angel in about 6 weeks (not steadily working on it) but if I try to get the back done for the woman before my December monthly meeting in Media for the Needlework and Textile Guild of Media, I will have to dedicate more time to it.
I offered to send the woman a photo, and she was very happy to see it and said it looks fantastic! That makes me happy, too.
Since Saturday was such a lovely day, we decided to take a drive to Rehoboth Beach for the annual needlework exhibit at the Rehoboth Beach Museum.
Upon entering the exhibit (no photos allowed), which is now in a larger room on the 2nd floor, I saw a red fox done in cross stitch by Shirley H (of ANG DE Seashore Chapter and my EGA Brandywine Chapter). Congratulations to her for a Judge’s and People’s Choice Award. That was just one of several lovely cross stitch pieces in the exhibit. Bill recognized a baseball cross stitch piece as a Norman Rockwell cover. Seeing Earth Angel by Lavender and Lace made me think of the angel I stitched for my sister called Angel of Hope but that was from Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum.
Thomas S-G, another EGA Brandywine Chapter member, displayed his ribbon winning original Tree of Life embroidery done in crewel.
Also on display from the ANG DE Seashore Chapter, there were lovely designs from Nancy Cucci stitched by Roseanne J including 20 squares with Halloween motifs called Autumn Treasures and another 20 squares with Fall motifs called October Treats. Both ribbon winners!
Brenda (also with the ANG DE Seashore Chapter and my EGA Brandywine Chapter) was not to be left out of the Nancy Cucci design party with Heart Jeweled, a lovely pink piece. Seeing Brenda C’s Bargello Rose by Wendy Moore which is in my stash from a past ANG Cyberpointers’ project really makes me want to do it. Very fun to see in person Brenda’s The Game is On! by Susan Hoekstra which is a checkerboard. But her two beaded bracelets were fantastic. One had lots of tiny beads and the other quite large beads. Both stunning. Congratulations to her for her ribbons!
Speaking of beads, I was quite taken by Sarah H’s Coral Sea by Van Gogh with all the French Knot & beads for the coral. The swirling water was lots of long/short stitches (I think) and there were seashells sprinkled throughout. A well-deserved First Place ribbon winner in canvas work. But, there was no doubt about The Best of Show and First Place ribbon winner for Karen R’s 4-piece framed set of beaded shore/underwater coral scenes. The 3-dimensionality of the each one was incredible.
There was assorted small quilted pieces, miniature needlework, embroidery, samplers, and ribbon work. In fact, the ribbon work was all quite large. None more than Lynn K B’s Butterflies of Remembrance, a large piece of canvas with the butterflies done in ribbon work probably appliqued/attached onto the green needlepointed canvas of various stitches for each long slender leaf covering the canvas. No wonder it was a First Place ribbon winner.
The handmade frame that looks like 2 kitchen windows was perfect for holding 2 different cross stitch samplers of 9 herbs and 12 berries. Another ribbon winner.
Apologies to a couple of entries I mentioned above without the mentioning the stitcher – I thought I got everyone’s name but missed a couple. I might have double checked my notes but the Museum docent came upstairs at 1 pm and announced she’d forgotten we were still here & almost locked us in! I misread the website hours (thought it was open until 3 pm). The exhibit is only open until November 12. So, there is just one more weekend.
I bought my chances for the baskets of goodies donated by the ANG DE Seashore Chapter, Salty Yarns in Berlin MD, or by Sea Needles in Bethany Beach DE.
The New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) chapter decided to do a birthday plaid. They handed out a template to make a name tag. But, I want to try and make it reversible. So, I will be making it into a bookmark. If it works out, I’ll do one for Bill too.
I decided on using the color wheel colors plus one row of black. I went to Nimble Needle in NJ who had the full line of colors in DMC Pearl Cotton #5. While I was there, Karen showed me how to use my DMC Color Card correctly! I had no idea that the colors are not available for all types of DMC threads. My card is probably older than hers but the grayed out boxes indicate 211 is available for all thread types including floss, #3 Pearl, both #5 Pearl (not sure why there are 2 listed – maybe skein and ball?), #8 Pearl, and #12 Pearl; 210 & 209 has all except #12; 3837 is available in floss only; and 327 is available in floss, #3, and one of the #5 Pearl. Thanks, Karen, now I know!
I read on Needlepoint Nation that the DMC red label is the “new” version of Perle Cotton. If the Perle has gold and black in the band around the threads, it’s older and a bit thicker. If it has a red band, it’s newer and not as thick. When the company was bought by an English company a few years ago, they changed to the red label. That label also has dye lots on them, so now you have to make sure you get the same one. Now that I read about it, I’ve noticed the red label for the first time. However, it doesn’t feel any different to me.
I worked it out on graph paper before stitching. I’m not sure why I did that, but someone mentioned they had at the meeting, so I did too. There are 5 rows for the month of May in red, 2 rows in orange, and 2 rows in yellow for the 22nd, then the year (I’ll make you count that part). This is the first pass. Front photo followed by back photo. I’ll cut the tails when I am ready to finish. Looks reversible so far.
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 